The Taproom Podcast

Host Mike sits down with Kyle Thomas of Reformation Brewery to trace Kyle’s journey from growler shop work to running the canning line and rising to the brew stand. They cover Reformation’s roots and community-first mission in Woodstock and Canton, signature beers like the beloved "Cold One" and a creamsicle-style slushy, and why the taproom focuses on bringing people together. The episode digs into brewing styles Kyle ...

Host Mike sits down with Jeremy Schultz (owner) and Matt Bolden (head brewer) of 1852 Brew Co. in Visalia to tell the story of their ‘‘footy & brews’’ concept: indoor soccer fields paired with a family-friendly taproom and a locally rooted brewery. They talk brand origin, community-first design, and how soccer shaped the DNA of the business.

Matt shares his path from homebrewer to head brewer, the brewer...

Episode 180 of the Taproom Podcast features hosts Mike with guests Jenna Marquez and Matt Taylor of Tap Yard (and Drybox) in Tulare. They discuss opening and building a family-friendly taproom, adding Drivebox golf simulators, the 5,000 sq. ft. patio and LED Brewview wall, and curating a local craft beer lineup featuring 1852, Salty Walrus, Crow & Wolf, Firestone and more.

Key highlights include their Tap Yard Lager collab with...

Host Mike sits down with Jeremy "Jerm" Rodriguez of Beachwood Brewing to trace his decade-plus journey from bartender to brewer, blender and distiller. They discuss Beachwood’s IPA roots, the long-game patience behind the blendery’s lambic-style sours, building a distillery from scratch, and awards that validated their work. The episode also touches on brewery culture, customer experience, family life, nerdy hobbies, si...

Episode 178 of the Taproom Podcast: a thank-you episode hosted by Mike with co-host Luis. They recap recent brewery visits, brewroom updates and the festival run — including stories from TapYard Tulare, 1852 brewco aka Footy & Brews, Salty Bear and many more guests and breweries featured throughout the year.

Topics include Level Up’s expansion and taproom plans, competition wins and entries (Brewer’s Cup, Cali...

Join Mike for episode 177 of the Taproom Podcast recorded live at the L.A. Independent Beer Fest in Long Beach. Mike chats with brewers and brewery reps from Beachwood, Feathered Serpent, Old Stump, Gladiator, Beer Paper, Ambitious Ales, La Bodega, Tapyard, and more. Expect tasting notes on pilsners, West Coast IPAs, rice lagers, fruited sours, and unique beers like Secret Stash, People Pills, and specialty Japanese lagers.

The epi...

Host Mike sits down with Jeff Alworth, author of The Beer Bible, in a lively Father's Day episode exploring craft beer culture around the world. Expect stories from Fuller's in London to lager country in Germany and the Czech Republic, plus the deep dive that went into writing and updating The Beer Bible.

Topics include beer traditions (Belgian lambics, German lagers, Czech styles), the rise and plateau of hazy IPAs, fresh-hop seas...

Episode 175 of the Taproom Podcast — host Mike sits down with Dylan Prater of Mother Road Brewing in Flagstaff to explore the brewery’s story, history, and community role. Dylan shares how Mother Road started in 2011, the growth to a production facility, and the taproom’s focus on "radical hospitality."

Topics include the Arizona 250 lager (the state celebration beer), the flagship Tower Station IPA, the pilot bre...

Episode 174 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with Mike Durrant and head brewer Kevin Wright of Hops and Fog Brewing (Pacific Grove) to trace the brewery’s origin story from homebrewing to opening day, changing brewers, and building a community-focused taproom.

They discuss standout beers (the Kolsch KPA, Westie, Crush Mike, Tidal Haze), brewing challenges and day-to-day maintenance, evolving beer trends and yeast s...

Episode 173 of the Tap Room Podcast: host Mike sits down with Marin Slanina of Spindle Tap (now Spindle Tap Beverages) in Houston to explore how a decade-old brewery evolved into a diverse beverage destination. Maren walks through their coffee roastery, THC/delta‑9 drinks, non‑alcoholic taps, ready‑to‑drink cocktails, Cosmic Ice Cream, and the new branding that reflects all offerings under one roof.

They discuss Spindle Tap’s...

Episode 172 of the Taproom Podcast features Dustin Baker, co‑founder and head brewer of Roadmap Brewing in San Antonio. Host Mike and Dustin cover his path from middle‑school teacher to brewery owner, the story behind the Roadmap name, and how the taproom and brew house were built and developed since opening in 2018.

The conversation dives into Roadmap’s brewing philosophy—quality over quantity—favorites like lage...

Episode 171 of the Taproom Podcast: host Mike sits down with Shanleigh Thomson (aka @shan.ferments) for an in-depth conversation about her brewing journey — from agriculture and protein chemistry to Diageo, UC Davis Master Brewers, roles at BSG, Yakima Chief and Roy Farms, and her work teaching brewing programs at Washington State University and UC Davis.

The episode covers hop terroir and Terroir Tuesdays, sourcing and suppl...

Host Mike sits down with Todd Baldwin, owner of RedLeg Brewing in Colorado Springs, to trace the brewery’s rise from military veteran roots to a bustling three-acre taproom. They discuss Todd’s journey out of the Army, funding the business through hardship, the decision to build a flagship facility, and lessons learned growing a brewery in a crowded market.

Topics include RedLeg’s veteran-focused mission and commu...

Episode 169 of the Taproom Podcast features Ashleigh Carter, co-owner and head brewer of Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver. Mike and Ashley discuss her brewing journey from homebrew and coaching soccer to leading a lager-focused brewery, the German inspirations behind their beers, and the meticulous SoulPort pils pour and service ritual.

Topics include lager technique and consistency, the brewery’s year-round lineup (pils, Helles...

In episode 168 host Mike sits down with Andrew Crowe of Howling Rabbits Beer Works (McAllen, TX) to catch up on brewery life and beer experiments. They taste and discuss current pours — a fresh Kolsch, the 26/27 Rabbits IPA, a berry-forward milkshake IPA, Coconut Porter (toasted with a flamethrower), a Guava Sour, and a Dusseldorf-style Alt — and preview an 11% American barley wine for the brewery anniversary.

Topics i...

Host Mike sits down with John Jackson of Wild Parrot Brewing in Pasadena for a wide-ranging conversation about launching a neighborhood brewery, the story behind the name, and surviving a pandemic-delayed opening. They discuss Wild Parrot’s rotating one-off tap philosophy, favorite styles and hops, experiments with malts, and standout beers from their menu.

John shares practical lessons from his brewery build—shared spa...

Episode 166 brings a lively roundtable with Mike and special guests Raul (Solorio), Leo (Steady), and Luis (Level Up). The group discusses their beers entered in the California Craft Brewers Cup—from Mexican lagers and Irish reds to hazies, fruit fruited ales, and creative seltzers—plus brewing techniques, recipe tweaks, fermentation strategy, and competition preparation. They share stories about airline travel mishaps,...

Host Mike sits down with Will Perry of False Idol Brewing (North Richland Hills, DFW) for a lively episode about starting a brewery during COVID, False Idol’s laid-back “wolf den” vibe, named tanks (Shoresy, Regina George), and the cans and collabs that made the visit memorable.

They cover Will’s brewing journey (Oklahoma, Denver, Colorado Springs), False Idol’s core beers and rotating lineup (West Coa...

Episode 164 features Brian “Herbie” Herbertson, head brewer at Lucky Luke Brewing (Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster). Mike and Herbie dig into his path from homebrewing and touring with bands to commercial brewing, winning awards, and pivoting through COVID to grow Lucky Luke’s three locations.

The conversation covers brewing philosophy and techniques (yeast management, tank scheduling), favorite hops and styles...